IFIP WG2.4 meeting in Vadstena, May 20-25, 2012

The medieval city of Vadstena is situated on the border of the Vättern lake and is known for the Vadstena Abbey Church (picture to the left) and the Vadstena castle (picture below), one of Sweden's best preserved castles, which dates back to the era of Gustav Vasa (1545-1620). Originally built as a fortress by the king, the four cannon towers had 58 cannons in 1560. King Johan III, son of Gustav Vasa, turned the fortress into a Renaissance palace. Members of the royal family lived here through the centuries. Today you can visit a cannon tower, passages, the royal chapel and the great halls. The third floor is furnished the way it might have looked in the 17th Century.

The church is visible in the background and the Vadstena Klosterhotel where we will stay is one of the buildings in front of it close to the lake shore. The Abbey church was used by monks and nuns of the Birgittine order before Sweden became protestant in the 1500 century.

The Mount Omberg, situated nearby, hosts an exhibition that tells the story of Omberg's rich nature and culture - from the ice Age and the stone axes, to the giant oaks and the beetles.

Accommodation

The Vadstena Klosterhotel has comfortable accommodation in a historic environment. During the Mi ddle Ages, Vadstena was the location of a catholic monastery for munks and nuns of the Birgittine order. The hotel is largely located in the same medieval buildings that were once the monastery, now adapted to meet the requirements of modern living. The small town of Vadstena, by lake Vättern, bears witness of many ancient Swedish celebrities, who were active in the town and its surroundings; among them Holy Bridg et (Birgitta), king Gustav Vasa, prince Eugen and the author and Nobel price winner Verner von Heidenstam. The rooms of Vadstena Klosterhotel are beautifully decorated with furniture adapted to different time epochs.

You can fly at very low cost with Ryan Air to Skavsta Airport and then take an airport bus to Linkoping (around 90 minutes). Alternatively you can take the train, a taxi or rent a car.

For example, there are direct flights with Ryan Air from Hamburg/Lubeck, Frankfurt-Hahn, Berlin, Paris, London Stansed and Prague to Skavsta NYO.

Count an additional hour by taxi (☎: +46-155-217500) or two hours by bus (including a transfer and a short taxi ride).

You can order train tickets through most travel agencies, but if you choose to travel by bus you will have to buy the ticket yourself and get a refund. You can check out the bus schedule on www.flygbussarna.se, the trip will take about 1.5 hours (2 if you include the waiting time and transfer time to your final destination) and cost approximately 10 to 15 euro.

If you arrive/leave late or early, there is a Connect Hotel at the Skavsta airport (NYP), 75 meters from the terminal.